By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Tech giant, Microsoft, is reportedly planning to shut down its innovation centre in Lagos, known as the African Development Centre (ADC).
The reason for this action has not been independently verified by Business Post, but there are strong indications that it is due to the tough business environment and the low purchasing power of consumers in the country.
Recall that in 2019, Microsoft established the innovation centre believed to be worth $100 million in Lagos, but operations commenced in 2022.
The facility was launched by the then Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Pantami, and the Managing Director of Microsoft ADC West Africa, Mr Gafar Lawal, said, “We intended to recruit 500 full-time engineers by the end of the year or by 2023.”
“However, currently, we have exceeded 500. This is to tell you about the abundance of talents we have in Africa.”
At the time of its commissioning, the Nigeria centre employed over 120 engineers, with more than 200 total staff members at the moment.
But the jobs of the centre’s employees are threatened by the latest development, as a newspaper, The Guardian, claimed the workers have been informed of the shutdown.
The media platform quoted industry insiders as saying the staff members will receive their salaries until June 2024 and enjoy their health insurance.
